/ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/ PAINTING-CUBA: Artistic Boom Spawns Rise In Smuggling

By Patricia Grogg Reprint | | Print |

Patricia Grogg

HAVANA, Nov 9 1999 (IPS) - The National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana is still waiting for “Florero” (Flower Vase), a painting by Cuban Amelia Peláez (1897-1968), to be returned after it was stolen and put up for auction, unsuccessfully, in the United States.

“There was a huge scandal when they tried to sell it. We sent a fax of complaint to Christie’s, the New York auction house. Cuban residents of the United States also protested – but with different connotations,” said Rafael Acosta, president of Cuba’s National Council on the Plastic Arts.

The oil painting, whose asking price reached 160,000 dollars, was included in the Christie’s sales catalogue, which said it was part of a private art collection from Mexico City. The Cuban community in the United States immediately called the work’s origins into question.

Cuban National Heritage, an organisation of Cuban exiles dedicated to preserving their country of origin’s culture, requested that the auction house investigate the background of the valuable canvas, blaming the case on Fidel Castro’s government.

But Acosta maintains that such accusations distort the truth and have political under-pinnings.

“Every time U.S. institutions and experts consult us about the authenticity certificates of specific works of art, we have always complied,” he assured.

“Florero” was removed from bidding, but was not returned to Cuba. The same thing has occurred with other works from the Museum of Fine Arts, which holds the most important collection of oils and temperas by Peláez, founding artist of the Cuban school.

Sotheby’s, another New York art auction house, put “Mujeres y flores” (Women and Flowers) up for bid in November 1994. The oil painting by Cundo Bermúdez, a Cuban resident living overseas, came from the Cuban museum but Havana’s claims on the work did not get a reply. Nor did claims for “Dos mujeres” (Two Women), a painting by Marcelo Pogolotti.

Acosta reported that “Dos mujeres” had been auctioned despite the fact that Graciela Pogolotti, the artist’s daughter, had informed Sotheby’s that the work in question was a fake. Pogolotti hit his artistic stride in the 1930s with art known for its political and social criticism.

Such cases are not the only ones. “Other counterfeits have been found in auction catalogues and we have offered the services of our competent experts and expressed our willingness to help, but we have never received even a simple acknowledgement,” complained Acosta.

The counterfeit and robbery of Cuban artworks feed an illegal market that moves millions of dollars. In Cuba, the illicit market has been strengthened by the island’s economic crisis and the reforms implemented to overcome it.

The development of tourism, one of the major sources of income for the island, and the promotion of foreign investment have facilitated visits to Cuba by “people interested in acquiring and extracting” cultural goods, according to authorities.

In 1996, officials recorded some 400 cases in which individuals attempted to illegally remove culturally valuable pieces from the island. Just 88 cases were reported in 1994.

Removing a work of art from Cuban territory requires extensive legal paperwork, but “each time, the methods of deception are more sophisticated, like counterfeiting official seals and purchase receipts,” reported an art specialist from the state-run press.

Art council president Acosta stated that a well-designed catalogue – with the name, traits, dimensions, and a photograph of the work – is a fundamental tool to prevent fraud. Cuba is currently putting together catalogues of several prestigious painters.

“But we have to resolve the financial issue, because catalogue production costs around 70,000 dollars,” explained the official.

Earlier this year, the Cuban parliament introduced changes to the Penal Code to reinforce the prevention of art crimes. The new laws include punishments of up to five years in prison for those found guilty of counterfeiting or smuggling works of art.

Meanwhile, the entire collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts is currently in the custody of the Council of State while the museum itself undergoes remodelling.

“The works are in perfect condition, with appropriate climatisation and humidity, and are removed only for expositions,” explained Acosta. He pointed out that plastic arts in his country are currently going through an “incredible period.”

“Cuban art is selling very well on the international market, better than it has in 40 years – a boom for both classic and contemporary art,” he affirmed.

Buyers looking for the best of Cuban painting represent important collections in the United States, Europe and Asia. As a result, prices have shot upward, catching the attention of art traffickers, warned the island’s art specialists.

Christie’s auction house paid 882,500 dollars for “Nativite,” a masterwork by Wifredo Lam (1902-1892) and the first canvas by a Cuban painter to join the collection of Madrid’s prestigious Queen Sofía National Museum.